Bacteriophage
2006
interactive vending machine
62 x 30 x 30 inches + kiosk
from Vend-to-Own: consumer art series
Borrowing both form and function from a biological virus, Bacteriophageis a modified spiral gumball machine that dispenses gossip.
At a nearby kiosk, participants write down gossip or rumors on custom carbon-copy forms, and then they insert each form into a plastic capsule and drop them into the funnel on the top of the machine. Other gallery visitors can then put a quarter in the machine to purchase information that someone else has submitted.
It operates like an experiment in human nature and behavior. And, so far, the users have been unanimously malicious.
photos: TalismanPHOTO
